Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, Gloria Coates began composing at an early age, winning a national composition contest at the age of twelve. After earning a Masters of Music degree in composition she continued postgraduate studies in composition at Columbia University. She has been the recipient of many awards, commissions and distinctions. The music of Gloria Coates has been performed by leading soloists and ensembles, winning her an unrivalled reputation. Music on Open Strings (Symphony No.1), written in 1973, was first performed at the Warsaw Autumn of 1978 and proved to be the most widely discussed work in the Festival; her music has subsequently been heard at the Dresden Festival, New Music America 1989, Musica Viva Munich, the Passau International Festival, the Dartington Festival in England, the Montepulciano Festival Italy, the New York Microtonal Festival and Aspeckte Salzburg.

While maintaining a residence in the United States, Gloria Coates has lived since 1969 in Europe, where she has been an active champion of American music. She has lectured, written musicological articles, produced and broadcast radio programmes, and from 1971 to 1984 was responsible for a concert series of German-American music in Munich subsidised by the Munich Ministry of Culture and the Alice Ditson Fund of Columbia University. Her work includes compositions for orchestra, with thirteen symphonies, chamber music which includes seven string quartets, solo, vocal and choral music and electronic works, as well as music for the theatre. Recent recordings have brought her music to the attention of an even wider audience.